Organization

The Capitol Theatre opened its doors for the first time on November 10, 1916. Leather furniture with mushroom air holes under each chair provided a comfortable and quiet motion?picture experience. The theater screen was made of gold?fiber, a modern answer to the problem of flickering on older screens. Admission was fifteen cents.In 1976 the Capitol Theatre closed its doors and was neglected for thirty years, soaking up rain water from a hole in the roof, sometimes serving various organizations, but never living up to the potential for which it had been originally built and for which it originally served – entertaining the citizens of Middle Georgia in a unique and grand style.The journey that restored the dignity of this magnificent theatre began in 2003 and culminated when the Capitol Theatre reopened its doors as Cox Capitol Theatre in 2006. Since that time, the theatre has become a cornerstone in the revitalization effort of downtown Macon and is once again a symbol of community, operating as a movie house and live entertainment venue.The importance of the theatre to our area’s economic growth cannot be understated. According to a National Governors Association 2001 Economic Development Study, cultural activities attract tourists and spur the creation of restaurants, hotels and the services needed to support them. In addition, businesses cite access to the arts, music and entertainment as important quality of life factors when considering a new location.